Monday, March 17, 2014

Scott Asheton (1949-2014)

From Iggy Pop's Facebook page:

My dear friend Scott Asheton passed away last night.

Scott was a great artist, I have never heard anyone play the drums with
more meaning than Scott Asheton. He was like my brother. He and Ron
have left a huge legacy to the world. The Ashetons have always been and
continue to be a second family to me.

My thoughts are with his sister Kathy, his wife Liz and his daughter Leanna, who was the light of his life.

While Iggy Pop remains one of the greatest frontmen in rock 'n roll's history, he had the brothers Asheton powering his every utterance with sonic manna from some perverse nether-heaven, guitar work that could slice through steal and a snare hit that rattled senses. Scott and Ron both changed the game, nailing the lid shut on the 60s and providing a template for what would become punk rock music. I'm typing nothing that's not already well-known to those of us that have fully absorbed The Stooges (1969), Fun House (1970) and Raw Power (1973), a trio of rock n' roll perfection that continues to inspire and should be played for the extent of the day at full volume in tribute to one of the players that made them possible.

If there's a heaven, it has a garage, some amps and is now privileged to house another of rock's real deals. R.I.P., Scott Asheton. Sincerely,Letters From A Tapehead